The West African Action Network on Small Arms Nigeria chapter, WAANSA Nigeria, has lauded the efforts of the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris in the nationwide quest to mop up small arms and light weapons.

President of WAANSA Nigeria, Mr Jephthah Asimole, gave the commendation in Abuja after an inaugural meeting of his organisation with the small arms unit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Mr Asimole said relevant civil society groups like WAANSA Nigeria were ready to liaise with the Nigeria Police in the mop-up of small arms across the country particularly in the area of commencing an immediate inventory of recovered illegal arms from non-state actors.

“Conflicts that cause widespread hardship do not result from conventional weapons of war like warships and tanks but by low-cost small arms and light weapons. The global proliferation of these arms has frustrated government efforts towards restoring peace in war-torn areas especially in management of refugees for whom millions are spent in setting up camps and resettlement. Small arms are not only known for the killing and maiming of human lives but they also kill economic and social bonds on which developmental institutions rely on,” the WAANSA Nigeria President said.

He also urged Nigerians to support the call for comprehensive poverty reduction strategies with focus on agriculture in the West African sub-region as this will improve the living standards in local communities and reduce small arms crimes.

The meeting was attended by the new management of WAANSA Nigeria led by Mr Asimole, officials from the small arms unit of ECOWAS, representatives of civil society and the media.

WAANSA Nigeria is an affiliate of the International Action Network on Small Arms, IANSA, and works in conjunction with the United Nations and ECOWAS.